1 Chronicles 5:16 Kommentar

This chapter gives us some account of the two tribes and a half that were seated on the other side Jordan. I. Of Reuben (Ch1 5:1-10). II. Of Gad (Ch1 5:11-17). III. Of the half-tribe of Manasseh (Ch1 5:23, Ch1 5:24). IV. Concerning all three acting in conjunction we are told, 1. How they conquered the Hagarites (Ch1 5:18-22). 2. How they were, at length, themselves conquered, and made captives, by the king of Assyria, because they had forsaken God (Ch1 5:25, Ch1 5:26).

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 5 This chapter relates the genealogy of the tribes that lived on the other side Jordan; of the Reubenites, Ch1 5:1, of the Gadites, Ch1 5:11 of the half tribe of Manasseh, Ch1 5:23 and of their war with the Hagarites, in conjunction with each other, and their conquest of them, Ch1 5:18 and who for their sins were all carried captive by the king of Assyria, Ch1 5:25.

The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh,.... These all joined together, living together on the one side of Jordan: of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war; strong able bodied men; and not only able to bear and carry arms, sword in one hand, and shield in another; but were men of valour and courage, and had military skill, and knew how to handle their arms to advantage: were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war: that used to go out when there was occasion, and did at this time.

The genealogies of Reuben, Ch1 5:1-10. Of Gad, Ch1 5:11-17. The exploits of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, Ch1 5:18-22. The genealogy of the half tribe of Manasseh, Ch1 5:23, Ch1 5:24. The idolatry of these tribes and their captivity by the Assyrians, Ch1 5:25, Ch1 5:26.

The suburbs of Sharon - There were three places of this name: that mentioned here was a district in the country of Bashan beyond Jordan, (see Jos 12:18); there was another that lay between Caesarea of Palestine and Joppa; and there was a third between Mount Tabor and the Sea of Tiberias. See Calmet.

THE LINE OF REUBEN. (Ch1 5:1-10) Now the sons of Reuben--In proceeding to give this genealogy, the sacred historian states, in a parenthesis (Ch1 5:1-2), the reason why it was not placed first, as Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob. The birthright, which by a foul crime he had forfeited, implied not only dominion, but a double portion (Deu 21:17); and both of these were transferred to Joseph, whose two sons having been adopted as the children of Jacob (Gen 48:5), received each an allotted portion, as forming two distinct tribes in Israel. Joseph then was entitled to the precedency; and yet, as his posterity was not mentioned first, the sacred historian judged it necessary to explain that "the genealogy was not to be reckoned after the birthright," but with a reference to a superior honor and privilege that had been conferred on Judah--not the man, but the tribe, whereby it was invested with the pre-eminence over all the other tribes, and out of it was to spring David with his royal lineage, and especially the great Messiah (Heb 7:14). These were the two reasons why, in the order of enumeration, the genealogy of Judah is introduced before that of Reuben.

Sharon--The term "Sharon" was applied as descriptive of any place of extraordinary beauty and productiveness. There were three places in Palestine so called. This Sharon lay east of the Jordan. upon their borders--that is, of Gilead and Bashan: Gilead proper, or at least the largest part, belonged to the Reubenites; and Bashan, the greatest portion of it, belonged to the Manassites. The Gadites occupied an intermediate settlement on the land which lay upon their borders.

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 5 This chapter relates the genealogy of the tribes that lived on the other side Jordan; of the Reubenites, Ch1 5:1, of the Gadites, Ch1 5:11 of the half tribe of Manasseh, Ch1 5:23 and of their war with the Hagarites, in conjunction with each other, and their conquest of them, Ch1 5:18 and who for their sins were all carried captive by the king of Assyria, Ch1 5:25.

The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh,.... These all joined together, living together on the one side of Jordan: of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war; strong able bodied men; and not only able to bear and carry arms, sword in one hand, and shield in another; but were men of valour and courage, and had military skill, and knew how to handle their arms to advantage: were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war: that used to go out when there was occasion, and did at this time.